Shoemaking-machine.



E. ERICKSON.

SHOEMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED mman, 1912.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

IMT/@S555 gm a, A @M WM THE NORRIS PETERS CQ, PHOTc-LITHO.. WASHINQTON.D. C.

E. ERICKSON.

SHOEMAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED MAR. 21, 1912,

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. ZZ@

/ZWW WW fm IHA NON/ws PETERS cia4 PHUTOJJTHO., WASHINGTON. DV C.

EDWARD ERICKSON, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNO, '.T.O` UNITED SHOEMACHINERY COMPANY, OE PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

SHOEMAKINGr-MACHINE. i

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, i915.

Application filed March 21, 1915i. Serial No. 685,176.

which the following description, in connec-l tion with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawingsindicating like parts m the several figures.

This invention relates to shoe making machines and is herein shown anddescribed as embodied in a machine for breasting heels, although it isto be understood that the invention in its broader aspects is applicableto other uses.

1t is the usual practice in this country to secure heels to shoes in aroughstate and then to trim the conveXly curved portions of the heelupona trimming machine, leaving the rough forward portion Vtobe removedby an operation known as breasting, by which the straight or concavefront face, or so-called breast, of the heel is shaped. It is usual toperform this operation by means of a flat or a gouge-shaped knifebetween which and the jacked shoe there is relative reciprocatorymovement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the tread face ofthe heel, a stop being provided to arrest the cutting action of theknife at the lower edge of the heel and thus avoid'injury to the shankportion of the sole by excessive movement of the knife. In this methodof breasting heels the knife is driven directly across the fibers of theleather in the heel and considerable force is necessary to effect thecut. This force is sometimes so great that the portion of the heel belowthe knife is somewhat compressed before the fibers will yield to thecutting edge of the knife and then when finally the knife begins to cutthe reaction of the compressed portion is apt to clause the knife to cutmore deeply than is desired. Frequently also the inner face of theinsole doc s not fit closely against the upper face of the last in theshoe and the excessive pressure of the knife against the heel tends toflatten the sole against the last and when the knife has passed throughthe heel and the pressure of the knife against the sole is relaxed, thesole, by tending to resume its normal shape, may react against the knifeand cause it to injure the shank portion of the sole.,-

lt is an object of the present invention to provide novel knifeactuating mechanism for effecting the breasting operation with a minimumof resistance thereto by the work and `for producing a breast face whichwill be so smooth as to require little or no further iinishing. Withthese objects `in view the knife, as an important feature of theinvention, is mounted so that it may rock, swing or oscilla-te about apoint lying substantially in the plane of the knife or about an axisperpendicular to the plane of the knife. Preferably this point or axisis in, or adjacent to, the cutting edge of the knife but it may, withoutdeparting from the invention, be located below or above the Vcuttingedge and within. the body of the knife or outside of it. Preferably andas herein shown the knife carrier is supported by a plurality of linksand. means is provided for giving the carrier a rocking movement uponthe links laterally of the shoe, the movement of the knife carrier beingpreferably in the plane of the knife or parallel thereto.

lt is also a feature of the invention that the links supporting theknife 4carrier are inclined to each other so that their longitudinalaxes, if extended, would intersect. Preferably this point Vofintersection is located approximately at the center of the cutting edgeof the knife, When so arrangedthe rocking movement of the knife carrier-upon the links in the plane of the knife will cause the knife to rockor oscillate about the said point of intersection and consequently theportions of the knife edge to each side of that point will be given asubstantially vertical movement or a movement perpendicular to the treadface of the shoe shank. The movement given the knife is preferably onlyslight, but very rapid, so that allportions of the cutting edge exceptthe center will vibrate rapidly in a plane perpendicular to the treadface of the shank.

The vibrating movements of the knife being but slight, it is practicableto employ knives of any convenient radius of curvature upon heels of anyordinary height without danger of the vibratory movements of the knifeinterfering with the relative move- "effect, the breasting operation.

'ment of the knife an'dshoe vnecessaryito Preferably and as lshown theknife remains stationary 'g eXcept for its vibratory movement and the 'lrequiring little effort operator. Y y

shoe is raised toward the knife by foot power. The'eifort, however,necessary for effecting the operation is very slight as the vi-bratoryYmovements of the knife cause it 4to effect its actual' cutting by thepower applied thereto, the movement of the shoe to the knife beingmerely a feeding movement uponl'the part of the As an important featureofthe invention the location of the center about which the knife isoscillated: or vibrated is not fixed but may be adj-usted. To accomplishthis the links by whichV the knife carrier is supported arejsov arrangedthat the degree of theirinclination to Veach other may be varied and asherein shown-the supports'of the upper ends Vof the links are mountedfor l'mr'qvement toward and'from each other and preferably'this.movement in each case is 'about the opposite end ofthe link as acenter, so that the inclination of the links may be'varied withoutchanging the vertical positionI of the knife carrier. It isa convenient'j feature ofthe invention that the upper ends of the links may besi'multane` ously moved equally. VSpecifically the upper end of Veachilink is mounted in a block Whichjis, in turn, mounted for movement in acurved slot struck from Vthelovver'end of the link asa center and theblocks are connetted by a right and left screw which is f' held fromlongitudinalv movement. Adjustside por ment `of the center ofoscillation above or below the edge of the knife results in giving the'edge portionof the knife a slight lateral movementlengthwise of theedgewhile the A i tions retain their vertical vibratory movements. Thisresults in a draw cut at-the center of the knife and a draw cut combinedwith a chopping cut at the side portions thereof.

Itis also within the invention to give the knife carrier a somewhatgreater vibratory movement than is necessary for the ordinary brveastingoperation, this being particularly feasible when a flat knife is used.lVith this eXtra movement a knife-With an edge having lav given verticalcurvature will breast a shank of materially greater curvature andfurthensince the limiting position of the movements of the knife edge isnot a circular curve but one having a greater degree of curvature at itsmiddle portion, the machine when the vibratory movements of the knifeYare increased is particularly adapted for breasting shanks having alongitudinal ridge A instead of an approximately cylindrical surface.

As a further feature of the invention there isprovided, in combinationwith the vibrating knife, a presser tread plate which is normallyresiliently depressed and against which the shoe is brought in itsupward movement by the treadle mechanism. The tread plate is providedwith a tread contacting portion which may be adjusted to coincide withthe rear face of the knife so as to serve as a gage for guiding orpositioning the heel relatively to the knife while it'is being raisedtoward the knife and before actual contact therewith takes place.

The provision of a resilient depressed heel' tread face engaging memberagainst which the shoe is pressed in its upward movement toward theknife not only enables the shoe to the engagement of the shoe with theknife, as described, butl serves to hold the shoe against lateraldisplacement during the cutting action of the knife. The spring which beproperly positioned prior to depresses the tread plate is only slightlyVtensioned when the work first engages the tread plate so that theA shoemay be readily positioned during the first portion of its verticalmovement and as thefshoe is raised farther,` the tension ofl the springis inf embodying the invention; Fig. 9. is a side Viewof the machine;Fig. 3 is a sectional detail taken transversely of a shoe being treatedand in front ofthe knife which is in the act of breasting the heel; Fig.4 is a perspective view of parts of the machine head showing the mannerof mounting the knife carrier for vibratory movement; Fig. 5 is a detailof the mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the links whichsupport' the knife carrier.

The column or frame of the machine is designated by the numeral 2. Ajack for supporting the shoe in operative relation to the breastingmechanism is provided at the side of the frame and comprises a casting ipivoted by a stub' shaft 6 to the machine frame. The casting 4 carriesbearings 7, 9, in vwhich -a jack post l() is mounted for longitudinalmovement. The lower portion of the post 10 where it passes through thebearing'9 is squared while the upper portion is cylindrical. At thepoint of' juncture between the square and cylindrical portions ashoulder is formed which may rest upon the bearing 9 to limitthedownward movement of 'the' post 10. Below the post 1'0 is a verticalsliding member l2 mounted in bearings 14, 16 and jointed toa treadle 20which is of the treadle slides the member 12 vertically. Y

rlhe jack post 10 projects below the lower end of the bearing 9 andrests in arecess 13 in the top of the member 12. The post 10 carryingthe shoe and jack may then be swung, in a direction which coincides withthe length of the shoe, about the pivot 6 to permit the shoe to bereadily placed upon and removed from the jack and to position the shoeproperly relatively to the knife, the extent of this swinging movementbeing limited by the end walls of the recess 13.

Fixed to the upper end of the post 10 is a U-shaped bracket 30 throughthe upper arm of which a threaded post 32 slides. Between the arms ofthe U- haped bracket is a hand wheel 34 which is threaded upon the post32 and by rotation of which the post 32 may be adjusted vertically. Theperiphery of the wheel 34 is toothed or roughened and a spring presseddetent 36 is provided upon the bracket to engage the toothed portion ofthe wheel and prevent accidental rotation thereof. Means, comprising anarm 40 xed to the post 32 and a pin 42 on the bracket 30 engaging a holein the arm 40, are provided for preventing rotation of the post 32 andVpermitting vertical movement thereof.

The post 32 is shown as carrying the usual metal work plate forbreasting heels off the last but it is to be understood that the post 32may be provided with a heel pin, and might carry a toe rest, for use inbreasting shoes on thelast, if desired.

Mechanism for clamping the shoe in position to be operated upon isprovided which acts automatically as the shoe is raised.

,This mechanism comprises a tread presser 50 which is carried by a slide52 mounted for vertical movement in the guides 54 on the head of themachine. The tread presser 50 is pivoted to the slide by a pintle 56about which it may be adjusted by the screw 58 to change its inclinationin accordance with the angle it is desired to have between the treadface and breast of the heel. The heel contacting portion of the treadpresser 50 comprises a slide 60 which may be adjusted toward and fromthe knife-by loosening the screw 62. This slide is adjusted against therear face of the knife so that its front edge coincides substantiallywith the cutting edge of the knife and serves as a gage for setting thevheel relatively to the knife before it comes in contact herewith., Theslide 52 VcarryinfJr the tread plate engages one end of a lever which ispivoted between its ends at 72 to the machine frame and has the otherend pivoted to a rod 74 which extends loosely through a lug 76 on themachine frame. rlhe rod carries adjustably a collar 7 8 and on the rod74 between the collar 7 8 and the lug 76 is an expansion spring 80 whichtends to hold the tread presser down Athe edge of the knife.

as far as is permitted by nuts 82 on the rod 74 which contact with thelug 76 and form adjustable limiting means for the downward movement ofthe presser 50.

The knife mechanism comprises a knife carrier 90, Fig. 4, to whichtheknife 88 is clamped by screws 91, and which carries adjustable abutmentsfor the top end of the knife in the form of screws 92. rlhe knifecarrier- 90 is mounted for movement substantially in the plane of theknife by means of links 94, which have rounded ends engaging cylindricalsockets formed respectively in the carrier 90 and in blocks 96 mountedin the head of the machine. The links 94 are inclined to the vertical atan angle normally approximating 30". 1t will therefore be seen that ifthe knife carrier 90 is rocked on the links 94, Fig. l, one link willhave its inclinationincreased and the other have its inclinationlessened and vice versa when the holder moves in the opposite direction.1n other words, the slight movements of the carrier will be in eectmovements substantially about a fixed point which lies at theintersection of the longitudinal axes (extended) of the links 94. Thispoint is preferably, and as shown, at the edge of the knife, but meansis provided for adjusting the position of the point vertically so thatit may be maintained at the edge of theknife as the knife is ground awayvor so that a slight lateral movement of the knife coincidently with thevibratory movements thereof may be secured by adjusting the center ofoscillation above or below the edge of the knife. For this purpose theblocks 96 which carry the upper ends of the links 94 are mounted in thehead of the machine in grooves 97 which are curved from the lower endsof the links 94 as centers and said blocks 96 are connected together bya right and left screw 99 which is threaded through blocks 101 pivotallysecured to the blocks 96. Longitudinal movement of the screw 99 isprevented by a collar 103 fixed to the screw tlnddengaging a suitableslot in the machine Obviously by turning the milled head of the screw 99the inclination of the links 94 may be changed equally and oppositelyrelatively to a line extending longitudinally of the knife S8 and thepoint of intersection of the links adjusted above or below the edge ofthe knife or maintained at the edge of the knife as it is ground away inuse. will be seen, further, that the adjustment of this point, center,or axis of oscillation above or below the edge of the knife will producea slight lateral movement of the knife as a whole as well as equal andopposite vertical movements of the outer edges of the knife to whichlatter movements the knife is practically limited when the axis `islocated at The effect on the vlaoV i place about a'A point a which ismachine.

lknifeof rocking' the carrier isr to force down one endof'its`4 cuttingedge'and to raise the fother end and vice versa about a substan- Ytionofthe-'knife carrier is formed with a ball socket to receive a ball 100which is secured to a'connect'ing' rod 102 and is held in its socket bya retainer 104. The opposite A'endl of the rod 7102 is similarlyconnected, ibut" eccentrically, to a hub 106 which is vvmounted on ashaft 110 in the head of the The shaft 110 is driven from a pulley 112,aV loose pulley 114 and a belt shifter 116 being' also provided. Theball vsocket in the knife carrier is in alinement vertically with theaxis of the shaft 110, `Fig. 1, l but isldisplaced horizontally, Fig. 2,'to an extent equal to the eccentricit'y of the socket in the hub 100.By this construction it will be clear that the rod 102 will beperpendicular to the face of the hub at one point inthe rotation of thehub and that at this point the knife carrier will be pushed Y toV itsfullest extent to the right, Fig'. 1.

When the hub is rotated 180O from this position, the rod will havereached its greatest Ypossible inclination and the carrier Ywill be 'inits VVposition of greatest movement to the left. l The shaft 110 isrotated ery rapidly andthe knife is thereby given an oscillatoryvibration which enables it to cut through the workl speedily and withease and accuracy. Fig. .3 shows in full lines one position of :theknife in its vibratory movement and in dotted lines its oppositeAposition.

It is obvious that the movement takes practically stationary, and thatthe other portions of the edge of the knife have a slight vibratoryVmovement in a substantially vertical direction. The lateral ymovementsof the upper portionso'f theknife are so slight that they donot`interfere with the use of a gouge knife of a high degree ofcurvature or with the' breasting of high heels.- The edge of the'knifeis given the usual curvature to fit the crowning of the shank and thevertical of the side portions, while they effective curvature of theknife edge, Yare so slight in extent that the result isarather to effectthe complete dechip at the sides without cutting the shank thantonecessitate the use of a knifeof less curvature than the given shank.A shank' stop 120 has a toothedupper portion,` Figx, which is engaged bya worm A plane n, so Vas to arrest the shoe before thel shank is cut. Inoperation, the

jack being in its' lowered Vmeans for manually 'moving the and outwardlyswung position, a shoe is placed upon it and 'swungY under the knife`with its heel under the tread presser 50. The shoe is then raised bypressure upon the treadle until the heel contacts with the presser andraises it. The heel may now to the forward end of the gage plate whichis adjusted to the line of cut to be madeA by the knife. As the shoe israised farther the heel comes in contact with the knife, which, beingrapidly vibrated as described, passes easily through the heel withcomparatively little effort on the part of the operator until furthermovement of the shoe is arrested by contactJ of the shoe with the stop120. The jack is then lowered and the shoe removed.

{aving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:`

In a machine for and sioes, the combination of .a knlfe, and

the knife and adjacent to its edge.

2. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, thecombination of a knife, means for raising the shoe toward the knife, andmeans for vibrating the knife substantially about a point located in itscutting edge.

3. In a machine for treating the heels of boots and shoes, thecombination of a knife, and power means for rapidly vibrating the knifeabout a movable axis, the locus of which is perpendicular to the planeof the knife.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a knife, ashoe support, support toward and from the knife and means foroscillating the knife about a. substantially stationary of the knife.

5 AIn' a machine of the class described, a machine head, a knifecarrier, inclined links supporting the carrier on said head, and meansfor rocking the carrier on said links.

In a machine of the class described, a knife, a carrier'therefor,carrier supporting links downwardly and inwardly .inclined toward theknife edge, and means for vibrating' the carrier on the links.

In a machine of the' class described, a frame, a knife, a' knifecarrier, means for supporting the carrier for oscillatory movementcomprising links pivoted respectively to the carrier and to the frame,the longitudinal axes of said links being inclined to each other' andintersecting when extended nearthe cutting edge of the knife, and meansfor vibrating the carrier on' the links.

8. A` heel breastlng machine having, in combination,

a vertically movable shoe supbe positioned relatively' point located inthe cutting edge nier/,ies

port, a resiliently depressed tread plate with which the shoe contactsas it is raised by the support and whichis raised by the shoe againstsaid resilient means, means on the plate for indicating the position ofthe cut to be made by the knife, and a knife vibrating substantially at`right angles to the plane of the plate against which the shoe isbrought by further elevation of the`l` support.

9. A heel breasting machine having,`in combination, a vertically movableshoe support, a resiliently depressed tread plate with which the shoecontacts as it is raised by the support and which is raised by the shoeagainst said resilient means, means on the plate for indicating theposition of the cut to be made by the knife, and a knife mounted forvibration about a variable axis the locus of which intersects the planein which the knife vibrates.

10. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a knife, aknife carrier, links for supporting the carrier to permit oscillation ofthe carrier upon said links, and means for varying the relation of thelongitudinal axes of the links to each other.

11. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a knife, aknife carrier, inclined links supporting the carrier for vibrationthereon in the plane of the knife, and means for varying the inclinationof said links and thereby varying the position of the axis about whichthe carrier vibrates.

12. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a knife, aknife carrier, inclined links supporting the carrier for vibrationthereon, means for vibrating the carrier, and means for varying equallyand oppositely the inclination of the links with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the knife to vary the movement of the knife.

13. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a knife, awork support, means for moving relatively the work support and the knifeedge, and power means for giving the knife a rapid vibratory movement ofrotation in its own plane.

lll. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a knifecarrier, means for vibrating the carrier about a movable point the locusof which lies outside the carrier, a knife on said carrier, means forraising the shoe toward the knife, a resiliently supported tread presserplate for engaging the heel, and means for limiting the action of theknife upon the shoe.

15. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a knife apart of which is substantially stationary, means for imparting rapidmotion to other parts of the knife, a Work support adapted to raise thework into operative relation to the knife, yielding means engaging theupper face of the work and movable therewith to hold the ing incombination, a knife arranged to vibrate about a substantiallystationary `point in the plane of the knife, a work support adapted toraise the work into operative relation to the knife, means engaging thework and movable therewith to hold the same during the action of theknife, and stop means for limiting the cutting action thereof.

17. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a knifearranged to vibrate substantially about an axis perpendicular to andpassing through the knife, a work support adapted to raise the work intooperative relation to the knife, and means for arresting the cuttingaction of the knife.

18. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a knife, acarrier for the knife, power means for giving rapid vibratory movementto the carrier about a substantially relatively stationary axis, andmeans for varying the position of the axis relatively to the knife edge.

19. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a knife, acarrier for holding the knife, power means for giving rapid vibratorymovement to the knife carrier substantially about an axis perpendicularto the plane of the. knife, and means for varying the position of saidaxis longitudinally of the knife.

Q0. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a knifehaving an edge curved in the plane of the knife, and means for so movingthe knife about an axis perpendicular to its own plane that a shoehaving a shankof greater curvature than the knife will be breasted.

21. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a knifehaving an edge curved in the plane of the knife, and means for movingthe knife in its own plane about a horizontal axis substantiallyparallel with the longitudinal axis of the shoe so that the limits ofits movement lie in a line having a sharply curved central portionflanked by portions of less curvature whereby a shank having a centralridge may be breasted, said shank having Va greater curvature than theknife.

22. A heel breasting machine, having in combination, a shoe support, achisel knife between which there is relative reciprocatory movement in adirection perpendicular to the tread face of the heel, and power meansfor rapidly oscillating the knife and the shoe relatively about an axisextending lengthwise of the shoe.

28. A heel breasting machine, having in combination a shoe support, achisel knife, and means for actuating the knife about an axis extendinglengthwise of the shoe so e l l Y i that the heel Will be breastedprogressively In testimony vWbercot I have signed my from tread face toheel seat by cuts made on name to this specification in the presence of10 opposi; sides kof the heel breast alternately. two subscribingWitnesses.

24. Y, heel feasting machine, iaving in 1 T combination, a vshoesupport, a chisel knife, EDWARD ERIQKSOA and .means for oscillating theknife in the Witnesses: direction of its Width about a substgtntiallyCHESTER E. ROGERS, fixed axis located vnear the middle o f itsedge.LAURA M. GOODRIDGE.

Y Copies of this patent may .beiobtained for nve cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

